HARRY Balfour, one of York's leading bowlers of the post-War era, has died at the age of 95.

Generally known as 'Mr Haxby Road', he was a lifelong member of that club, being club president from 1979.

He was an automatic team regular over several decades when the Haxby Road won 16 league championships, 10 Williamson Cup titles and seven Yorkshire County Club championships.

He won several Yorkshire County individual events, being County singles champion in 1958, fours champion in 1974, and the two-woods singles winner three times.

He was a regular member of Yorkshire first team for 15 years, was Yorkshire county captain in 1967, and was elected a county life member in 1980.

Mr Balfour was on the committee of the York Amateur Bowling Association for many years, being president in 1962 and a life member in 1974.

He was also a founder member and original trustee of the York Indoors Bowls Club in 1973.

He is the second major bowls personality that York has lost this week following the death of Peter Clough, another Yorkshire champion.

Mr Balfour was a promising scrum-half with the Haxby Road Old Boys' rugby league team in his younger days.

However, his rugby league career ended abruptly when he broke a leg in a tackle and he proceeded to take up bowls to such great affect.

His funeral service will be held at The Retreat on Wednesday, November 2, (1.45pm), followed by cremation at York Crematorium.

Updated: 09:40 Friday, October 28, 2005